Date: 04-29-2012

Case Style: Colleen Harper v. Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles

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Court: Superior Court, Hampden County, Massachusetts

Plaintiff's Attorney:

Defendant's Attorney: Keith M. Minoff and Kerry David Strayer

Description: Colleen Harper sued Thomas W. Manning, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles and others on hostile work place environment (sexual harassment) and retaliation theories claiming that an auditor was sexually harassing her and that she was retaliated against when she complained about how she was being treated.

Harper worked as a supervisor of clerks in the Chicopee office and Manning visited regularly in his job to audit regional registry offices. She claimed that staring in 2006, Manning began making crude and vulgar comments to her about his sex life. She further claiming that Manning ultimately stopped making the comments but then retaliated against her by giving increased scrutiny to her work which resulted in her being asked to resign.

Manning settled before trial for an undisclosed sum and the State claimed that Plaintiff's claims were unfounded.

Outcome: Plaintiff's verdict for $70,000 in back pay compensation and $375,000 in punitive damages.

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Defendant's Experts:

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